Amber Alert issued for kids who were thought dead in house fire

An Amber Alert has been issued for two Middle Tennessee children who were first thought to have died in a house fire.

9-year-old Chloie Leverette and 7-year-old Gage Daniel were living with their grandparents whose home was destroyed Sunday night.

The remains of the grandparents were found in the ashes of the home, but there has not been a trace of Chloie or Gage.

The children were last seen Sunday evening by a neighbor, approximately three hours before the house caught fire.

Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-TBI-FIND.

Editor's note: The latest TBI release states the children were living with their grandparents. Earlier releases have said step-grandparents.

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Two Middle Tennessee kids who were first thought to have died in a house fire are now the subject of an endangered child alert.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued the alert Wednesday for the Bedford County Sheriff's Office.

9-year old Chloie Leverette and 7-year old Gage Daniel were living with their step-grandparents in Unionville when a fire destroyed their home Sunday night. Initially, investigators assumed all four died in the fire, but the children's bodies were not found.

The Bedford County sheriff said investigators did find the remains of 72-year-old Leon "Bubba" McClaran and his 70-year-old wife, Molli McClaran.

Family members told The Associated Press that the McClarans were raising their step-grandchildren because they needed a home and described them as generous people who loved their family. Relatives of the McClarans said the girl also used the last name Pope.

The children were last seen on Sunday, September 23, 2012 at approximately 6:30 p.m. by a neighbor. Investigators do not know where the children are now.

If you have any information concerning the current whereabouts of Chloie and Gage, please contact the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

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Four people are dead following a fire in Bedford County Sunday night.

The sheriff's office says the fire killed two grandparents and their two step grandchildren who were ages nine and seven.

The sheriff says he believes the home was a two-story house that collapsed on itself into the basement.

Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire.

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Authorities in Bedford County are searching the rubble of a burned home where a couple and their grandchildren are believed to have died.

Sheriff Randall Boyce told the Shelbyville Times-Gazette that firefighters had found one body by daylight Monday morning. Boyce said it was possible someone escaped as the home burned late Sunday night.

A passerby saw the home engulfed in flames and called for help about 10:30 p.m.

The residents of the home were a couple, believed to be in their 70s, and two elementary school-age grandchildren.